Crawford a "Starr"

By Chris Blake

This freshman hopes to carry the women's basketball team to new heights.

Rebounding is not Crawford’s only strength. Head Coach Jeff Mittie listed a few things Crawford has that have helped her become an impact player quickly at the collegiate level.

“She’s one of our strongest players already as a freshman, so that helps (her) physically coming in. She’s got a good basketball IQ and picks things up pretty quick,” Mittie said. “The final thing is she’s just a competitive kid (who) comes everyday and works hard.”

Mittie said he knew Crawford could be a key player as a freshman after a scrimmage against Oklahoma State in which she “raised her game another level.

Despite Mittie’s praise, Crawford was humble about the reason upperclassman listen when she speaks up.

“I don’t say just like crazy things,” she said. “I say things that pertain to the game and the situation that we’re in right now.”

Playing her high school basketball just over 20 miles away at Summit High School in Mansfield, Crawford earned first team all-state honors as both a junior and senior. In addition to the two all-state selections, she was named first team all-district her first two years of high school.

Crawford was selected as the 5A state tournament Most Valuable Player after the Jaguars’ 2009 championship run. Even though she had a state title under her belt, Crawford said the adjustment from the high school to college game was difficult.

“In high school you don’t have to be physical as soon as you step on the court. You can wait until the play develops,” she said. “But in college, it’s constantly (that) you have to have a body on somebody.”

Crawford has helped the Lady Frogs to a 19-6 overall record and their 9-3 mark in league play puts them atop the Mountain West Conference. An at large bid for the NCAA tournament is a likely scenario no matter the outcome of the conference tournament, but Mittie was non-committal about how far his team could go in the postseason.

“A big part of being a team that plays in the postseason is how resilient (they) are,” he said. “This team has shown that they come to work everyday and that’s what has made them good to this date, but we know we’re going to have to have a good February.”

Crawford said her goal was for the team to make its first Sweet Sixteen appearance in school history.

See the full interview with Starr Crawford at http://blip.tv/file/3241069

See the full interview with Jeff Mittie at http://blip.tv/file/3241073